Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

Stephen Wesley Pless

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

Barrancas National Cemetery
21-929A

Born:September 06, 1939 at
Newnan, GA

Entered
Service in the US Marine Corps fromAtlanta, GA

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Vietnam War For heroism
August 19, 1967 at Quang Nai, Vietnam

Died:July
20, 1969 at the age of 29

During an
escort mission Major Pless monitored an emergency call that four
American soldiers, stranded on a nearby beach, were being
overwhelmed by a large Viet Cong force. He flew to the scene and
found 30 to 50 enemy soldiers in the open, some of them
bayoneting and beating the downed Americans. Major Pless
launched a devastating attack against the enemy force, killing
or wounding many of the enemy and driving the remainder back
into a tree line. His rocket and machinegun attacks were made at
such low levels that the aircraft flew through debris created by
explosions from its rockets. Seeing one of the wounded soldiers
gesture for assistance, he maneuvered his helicopter into a
position between the wounded men and the enemy, providing a
shield which permitted his crew to retrieve the wounded. During
the rescue the enemy directed intense fire at the helicopter and
rushed the aircraft again and again, closing to within a few
feet before being beaten back. When the wounded men were aboard,
Major Pless maneuvered the helicopter out to sea. Before it
became safely airborne, the overloaded aircraft settled four
times into the water. Displaying superb airmanship, he finally
got the helicopter aloft.